Thermostatic radiator admission valve



Feb. s, 1935. E a HA Y 1,990,282

THERMOSTATIC RADIATOR ADMISSION VALVE Filed June 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 5, 1935. E. s. HALSEY THERMOSTATIC RADIATOR ADMISSION VALVE Filed June 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jill 1872i??? Patented Feb. 5, 1935 'rHE RMosrA'rIo My invention relates to-thermostatically actuated admission valve units for -radiators,particularly for hot fluid heating vsystemstin which the device is directly associatedwith the radiator.

; 1;o be controlled.

The invention'consistsin the features and combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the, claims, v 1

In carrying out my. invention I have soughtv to provide a valve controlling mechanism capable of automatic operation according. to room temperature, capable of operation'by hand and capable of adjustment'tovarious temperatures, in

-- which the elements will be few, of. economic con struction, susceptible of ready and quick assem-" bly, and in which elementsperform plural functions in respect to automatic manualyand ad-f justment operations- And furtheryto provide in a one single body design a product universally and conveniently adaptable to-the requirements of any and all kinds of modern radiator installation,- including the numerous types of concealed or covered radiation; connectable at top orbottom,

.and adapted to straight, angular, left, right or corner connections, with closev or distant actu-, ating bulbs, and with an adjusting dial and handle readilypointed in "any desired direction and extendable toany desired extent, thereby H; greatly reducingpresent manufacturing and distributing complication and-expense; also a valve adaptable to all typesyof hot fluid heating systerns. Further, my presentdevice is conveniently adaptable to the various types of installations in.-

;, dicated, without objectionable protrusion beyond the, outline and projection .of the radiator and its.- supply pipe, and the inherentlylight bulb pore tion is further shielded against injuryby its surrounding and securely anchored stack.

In the drawings: Y Fig. 1 is the side elevation of one of these thermostatic controls, mainly in cross-section, with the center portion of its pendant expansion bulb and draft stack brokenout.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of thebulband stack, shown with its ventilated cover removed, and an end fraction of the attached valve.

Fig, 3. is a central "cross sectionwof the body on line -3.-3 of Fig. l. I II 1 Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are respectively, sidaback and top views, mainly in cross-section, of a specially devised close coupled swivel, angle uniori cou-, pling adapted to thevalve body, accomplishing a. universal angle. unit. 1

I valve.

reeozs zi w I RADIATOR ADMISSIONU, ALVE g Fig. '7 is afrontflelevation otthe valve bonnet showing adjusting dial and -handle,

Fig. Elisa side'jview impartial section of;a;;

modification of thevalvecone,

Fig.- 9 is a front elevation of; one

manner oi applicationof, the device shown'in-Fig. 1, to ,a

radiator.

Fig. 10 shows. asimilar installation but with the expansion bulb. extended andattached to the wall beneath the radiatorinstead of. the draft stacks Fig. 11 shows a front elevatiomof a gstackinstallation ofthedevice, alternative trom that of 1 Fig: .1 sh win the ad ust a a d handle directed upward andindicating an extension stern for coveredradiators I Fig. 12 is a frontelevation ofa bottom con-q nected-stack installation: 1

Fig, 13 ,is a plan View of the {Wilfijl for the swivel, valve connecting unit; fissfi ndw In the -drawings, R, indicates the radiat ock f n the supply pipe; l, the valve body; if, the closure cone 3, the actuatingdiaphragm bellows, t

and 2, its surroundingshield or stack modulated or cut off by the inward thrust of the.

bellows; pushing the valve cone towards its seat I by thehydraulic force of expansionof the liquid;

in the bulb, resultant froma-rise in .room tema u e- 1., I

The temperature at whichthis automatic action occurs may be regulated byaturning adjustment of; the external handle; and byiturnpiece, V, resultant fromthe expansion and contractio Of; the liquid in bulb, B, acting upon the,

metal bellows, 3, through the medium of I the small connecting tube, 4. Thesehydraulic movements are conveyed to the valve, V, through the medium of push rod "3f and the heavily spring loaded sliding abutment unit, which carriessaid valve cone by meansoija coarsev threaded adjusting head, 5', and the closing thrust of the valve is resisted and retrieved by thegzcoilspring, 6, stepped in the cup, '7, bearing on the-fcollar of the revolving valve stem, 8.. The outerren'd of this valve ,stem is. squared ,and has a free, sliding movement in the f guiding handle shaft, 9, which is rotatable by the exteriorhandle;

. 10, and this rotating handle shaft makes a fluid II I. 25:, Briefly stated,' the heat flow to theradiator is;

outward spring thrust from the dial plate, 11,

which is made of spring metal, formed with an ments consisting of the valve cone and valve v stem, screwablyfmounted to the -spring loaded. abutment unit, terminating ina square plate outward dished center, j so that when sprung firmly back into the flat position shown, by lock nuts, 12, and 12', its inner beveled shoulder firmly presses a suitable plastic packing ring, 13,

located between itand the counter-bored recess of the bonnet hub which acts as a journal for'this" rotatable handle shaft.

It should be noted that the axially sliding ele- 14, is prevented from backing out of therear ofgrooves also prevent rotation of said abutment I unit. These indentures'are indicated by 15- It should be-further noted that while said ring nut is tightened in position with its retained b'ellows mechanism, that the center of said abut ment plate is solidly back-stopped by-the central projecting circle of the bellows jointyand'that the thermostatic unit, consisting of the flanged bellows capsule, 1'7, with appending expansion bulb, is readily detached from the valve body, by the unscrewing of said ring nut.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that by the substitution of a blind screw-cap, (not shown), forthis detachable unit, screwed on in place thereof, to seal the body,.'and back-stop said abutment, the valve may be manually oper ated; not only in so far as -modulation of the heating fluid is concerned; but by turning the handle to the extreme right, to the indicated ofi position, the valve may be tightly closed through the medium ofthe coarse left handed threaded joint between the interior of the valve cone and-- threaded head 5, of said spring loaded abutment Under this condition the valvecone will be 'flrznly seated under the resilience of the loading spring, acting againstthe steam pressure so that it is possible to change external parts; withthe steam on. This hand operation is of advantage for installations in buildings during completion,

also :providing temporary means for manual operation in case of injury to thermostatic unit;

which may be supplied as an interchangeable part. a

The loading spring, 18, is given a permanent tensionysufiicient to'firmly seat thevalve, by

-means' of screw, 19, only yielding after seating the valve to permit further expansion of the liquid without injury. 7

"The expansion bulb; B, should be of a' suitable length to give the required capacity for the expansion liquid chosen,- after an account is-taken of the amount of the expansion displacement desired per degree of bulb temperature change. The chosen liquid should have a high expansive coefficient and should also have a high boiling point, preferably above the highest workingtemperature of the heating fluid it is intended to control. I have found kerosene satisfactory for this purpose.

- The diameter of the expansion bulb has been so designed as to just pass through union nut, 16, sothat the whole thermostatic unit, including bellows chamber, expansion bulb and connecting tube, can be most conveniently liquid filled, sealed, tested and calibrated at the factory before the nut is slippedinto'plac'e over them,-

regardless of the length of the connecting tube. Round anchor disks, 20 and 20', are soldered or otherwise secured to the ends, respectively, of

expansion bulb, B, and bellows capsule, 17, back.

of which one or more flexible turns of their con-- necting tubing are made before the tubing is led off to the other unit connected thereby,thus

affording a resilient section between the soldered Furthermore, disk, 20, on the bellows capsule performs the function of back-retainer for the "draft stack, 2, on certain types' of installation the body, when the ring nut, 16, with attached?" thermostatic unit is removed ;.its retention is ac-j. complished by indenting the backend of the slide grooves, 15, for the corners of said-plate, which" such as are shown by Figs. 1, 9 and 12. V The draft stack is preferably made in the form'of a vertical tube, which may be of either insulating material or metal. Thistube is capped at both ends by openly perforated covers, 21 and 21', affording a; free circulationof air. The cover at'the valve en d-of the stack is -deeply notched,

semi-circularly and of two diameters at the opposite sides to match the "difference in diameter atthe opposite ends of capsule, 17, onto, which it issaddled. This deep cover overlaps the end of the stack to which it is secured by four screws,

as in Fig. 12.

, The expansion bulb is inserted. in the stack I prior to the placing o'f-thecover and fastening and it may be positioned therein in any suitable manner, such asby the spacing screws indicated by 24.

In the installation, shown by Fig. 11, the bulb is positioned toward one side of the stack so as to overlap capsule, 17, the latter being inserted through a hole punched in the-stack cover. There is shown in thisfigure, above the dotted in valve handle, an extension handle shaft, 9', having a squared key socket adapted to fit the upturned squared shaft end of the valve, which is exposed when its insulating handle knob is removed to make such extension for covered radiators. v

-Referring to" the close @connected universal swivel valve coupling,'shown-in detail by Figs. 4, 5,6, and 13, a'girdling groove, 25, is machined around the short neck, 26, of the hollow, L

shaped'casting, 26. The depth of this groove is approximately half the diameter of its wire lock ring, 27. This ring is wound from heavy wire with the abutting ends of its open gap 27, nearly touching. While aspring, or-multi-section ring may be used for this purpose, I prefer to use the notched, onexpiece ring shown, having the two hingenotches, 27f, spaced about one third,

the diameter of its circle from each other and from the opening gap.- This .ring is initially formed and sized to snugly fitsaid groove. The

ringso formed may be diagonally forced inside the nut and its expansion groove, 28', within the back of the ring nut. Said nut containing the ring is then forcedback overthe beveled end of said short neck piece, which operation wedges the ring open and outward into said expansion groove in the nut, yieldingfat said notch hinges, where the metal bends sharply without otherwise deforming the ring, so that when the nut and ring are back in permanent position over said neck'thetwo outward bent ends of the ring are easily bent back, one at a time, in to a true circle, snugly seated in the anchor groove of-the neck mousse;

piece by means of a punch pin. inserted through hole, 28', in one sidev of the nut. When the nut is tightened 'ontoits coejoining .thread of opposite-which it fisipositioned, the inwardzfiare of the inner gripping gland'ol said nut bearmg on the ring, tends to clamp the ring: down into its anchor groove, the more, as it is tightened.

The temperature indicating pointer, 29, consists of a flat punching, journalled on the handle shaft and firmly clamped inany desired radial position in front of the temperature plate, 11, by means ofthe'lock nuts, '12 and l2"; 1

The temperature plate may also be setin desired radial position by loosening the lock nuts, which hold its marginal portion in firm spring contact withthe corresponding face of.

the bonnet. A stop lug 30', for the pointer, formed from the temperature plate by bent up tongue, 11', from its outer edge, is provided,

An enlarged modification-of the valve cone is shown by Fig. 8, which is cheaper to manufacture.

It is constructed by press drawing a cone shell body, V, from fairly heavy metal. The outer end of thecylindrical skirt of whlch'issheared :ofl with a uniform helix spiral of the same pitch asthat of the threaded head, 5", which it isto match and works within it, then this helix edge is forcibly curled inwards so'as to formasingle thread V", over a hardenedthrea'ded steel mandrel, formed to fit and fill said shell but having the thread of its outermostend symmetrically cut away in to that point lying within the "e ge of the shell where it is to act as j the spiral forming-edge. After this inward bent thread is "-formed the mandrel is unscrewed fromfthe shell;

and the valve stem; 8,; may be fixed into the apex of the cone in anysuitable manner.

While the bellows capsule, 17, may be' formed of any suitable metalfI-p'refer to constructit of astainless v steel of the lowest heat conductivity;

I have shown the bellows push rod'asjc'om structed of insulating material but it may be constructed of metal and soldered to the rear end of the bellows. k

I prefer to'construct the valve cone of a suit: able stainless steel, well'har'denedand to have the edge of the valve seat slightly rounded. 7

While the valve seat'has been shown as formed directly in the brass partition of the body, it is abutment plate 14, the adjusting head or. sliding element 5 and the spring 18, though not limited to these elements;

I claim: I

1. A temperature regulating radiator valve comprising a valve body having inlet and outlet openings, a partition within the valve body separating said openings, said partition being apertured to provide a valve seat, a valve head, a carrier therefor in relation to which the valve head is relatively adjustable whereby the valve head may be moved toward or away from'the valve seat while the carrier remains at rest, means for manual adjustment of the relative position of the head with respect to the carrier, a rigid stop limiting movementof the valve head any valve head, to be tightly forced on to the valve seat: upon-manual adjustment of the valve head relative .to' saidcarrier and towards said seat,-

and thermally responsive meansacting on said valve carrier to move it away'from said stop and" urge thesvalvehe'a'd onto'its seat independently oflsaid manually adjustable means; said rigid stop permitting manual closure of the valve independentlytof the thermally responsive means.

2. A temperature regulating radiator valve.

comprising 'avalve body having inlet and outlet openings,-:.a partition within thevalve body separatingsaid-openin'gs, said partition being aperturedtorprovide a'valve seat,;a valve head, a' carrier therefor inrelation to which the valve head is i relativelyadjustable whereby the valve head may be moved toward or away from the valve seat while the carrier remains at'i'est, resilient means tendingto'move the valve away from its seat to-open' position, a rigid stop limiting the movement of the valve head carrier away from the seat-under the action of said resilient means,

said stop also enabling the valve head to be tight-.

ly forced onto the'valve seat upon-manual adjustment of the valve head relative to said car rier and toward theseat, means for manual adjustment of the'relative position of the'h'ead with respect to the carrier, and thermally responsive" means acting von saidyalve carrier to move it and-the valve head against the action of saidresi'lient means toward the valve seat, said rigid stop permitting manual closure of the valve independently of the thermally responsive means. .-3. A temperatureregulating radiator valve comprising a 'valve'body having inlet and outlet" openings, a partitionlwithinthe valve body separatingsaid openings, said partition being apertured to provide a valve seat, a valve head, a'car-' rier. therefor comprising a sternhaving an abut:-'

ment, an elementslidably mounted on said stem,

and resilient means for'urgin'g said element against said abutment, said valve head being connected with and supportedby'said element and being relatively adjustable with respect thereto whereby the'valvehead may be moved toward or away -Irom the valve seat while said element remains at rest, means for'manual adjustment of the relative position of the head with respect to said element, and thermally responsive means acting on said stem to control movement of the element, said resilient means permitting continued movement of said thermally responsive means in a valve closingdirection after the valve head reaches its seat.

4;"A temperature regulating radiator valve comprising avalve' bodyhaving' inlet and outlet I openings, a partition within thevalve body sep-.

aratingsaid' openings,saidjpartition being aper tured-lto provide a valve seat, a-valve head-a carrier therefor comprising a stem having spaced abutments, one of said abutments having engagement with the valve body to mount said valve head carrier in axial alignment with said aperture and permitting axial movement only of said 7 carrier; a screw threaded. element slidabl'y' mounted on said stem, and resilientmeans disposed between the element and the abutment en-' gaging the valve body to urge the element against the other abutment,,said valve head being supported by said element and engaging with the screw threads whereby rotationof the valve head will cause its movement toward or away from the carrier. away from-the valvesseat to enable the valve head' toward or away from the valve seat I a while the head remains in fixed relation to said valve seat while: saidielement a, remains .at rest,-

means \for manuallyflefiecting' rotation of said valve head relative to the non-rotating element of said carrier, and thermally responsive means I acting on, said-stem to control movementot the valve head-towardxor .away from the .valveseat while: the head remains infixed relation to said' e1ement, said resilient meanspermitting continued movement ;of said thermally responsivemeans in a valveclosing direction. after the valve" head reaches its seat. r-

I g 5; A temperature regulatingradiator valve comprising avalvebody having, inlet andloutletopenings,.,apartition within the valve body sep arating said openings, said partition being apertur ed toprovide a valve seat, said valve body also having .an openingopposing said-aperture, a valve head, a carrier therefor in relation to which the valve head is adjustable whereby thevalve head may be moved toward or away from the valve seat while thevcarrier remains at rest,

meansjfor manual-j adjustment of the relative: position of the head with respect to the carrier, and adetachable closure: member for said last. named opening providing-a vback stop for said carrier whereby-the valve head upon adjustment relative to the carrier may be;moved away from said closure member and toward-its seat and. be

6. A .temperature regulating radiator valve comprising a valve body, having inletjand. outletopenings, apartition vwithin the valve body sep: aratingsaid openings said partition being; apertured to provide a, valve seat, a said .valve body 7 also having an-opening opposingsaidraperture,

ajvalve head, a carrier therefor, in relation to. which the valve head is'adjustable whereby. the, valve head may bemovedt toward or awayvfrom the valve seat while the carrier remains at rest,; means for manualadjustment of the relative position of the head with respect to the carrier, and adetachableyclosuremember for: said last; named opening providing; aback stop. iornsaid carrier whereby the valve head upon adjustment relative to the carriermaybe' moved away from said closuremember and toward its seat andbe forced tightly on its seat, said closure member comprising thermally responsive means acting on said valve carrier through said opening-to, control movement of the valve carrier andthevalve head toward or away from the-valve seat while thevalve head remainsin fixed rrelation to the carrier. 7

, 7. A temperature regulatingradiamr' valve comprising a valve bodyhaving inlet andoutlet openings, a partition withinthe-valve body- -sep-' arating said openings, said partition being apen-j tured to provide a valve seat, a-valvehead, a carrier therefor in relation to which the valve head is adjustable whereby the-valve. head may be moved toward oraway from the valve seat while the carrier remains at rest, said valve head having a projection :extending "through said aperture; 7 manually; operable means: engaging a with said projection to (meet adjustment ofF-the valve head relative to the carrien'and stopmeans limiting movement of the carrier; away from the valve seat upon :adjustmentnoftthe valve head; relativeto the carrierina direction againstthel valve seat} said: stop :means resisting the reactive :thrust exerted byfsaidcarrier. when the valv headisflforced tightly on its seat. a 4 v 8. A temperature regulating radiator,=jvalve comprising a. valve body havingrinlet a'nd outlet.

openings, a. partition within the .v'alve body separating said' openingssaid partition beingaperr" tured to provide avalvevseat, a vyalvehead, a non-rotatable carrier -f or supporting :the valve headin line with its seat, said iv'alve head hav-v ing threaded @engagement with :said 1 carrier whereby upon rotation, of thetvalvevheadjthe valve head will be jmoved stoward or away from the valve seat, said valve head having means extending through said v aperture to be, manually actuatedv to efl'ectrotationof said valve head, and stop means limiting movement; of the;;; carrier away from the valve seat upon'adjustment, of the a .25 valve head-relativetothe carrierin a directionagainst .the valve seat, said'stop; means resist- 7 ing the reactive;thrust exerted by said carrier when theyalve head isioreed tightly on its ,1 1:111 11" J1 1 9. The combination with; atemperature regulating radiator valve comprising a valve body seat.

having a fluid passageway therethrough, a -mov able valve head :ifor restrictingsaid passageway,

a movable member subjected to. fluid pressure for actuating said (valve, and a casingi enclosing the movable member a and extending horizontally from the valve. body, the interiorfloi said casing forming a wall of,,the pressure chamber, sur

rounding the [movable member and; the exterior of said casing, 'providing a supporting surface;

of a bulb -fori"supplyi ng' fluid pressure to said chamber in proportion to temperature -,variations and a stack engaging with and 'carryingsaid bulb} said stack having horizontally alig'ned" openings of asize tov receive therein said casing whereby the casing serveslasa projecting stem iromwhich I the stack and bulb aresuspended.

10. A temperaturejregulating ,ra.diator. valve comprisinga valve body having inletv and outlet openings, a partition within the valve body separating said openings, fs'aid partition being apertured to provide a valve seatfa movable valve head forcooperating with said valve seat, a valve head carrier withwhich thevalvehead'has adjustable interngagmnt, means for manually adjusting the valve 'he'ad'onthecarrier; and rigid means for m'aintaining' the'car'rier at a hired distanc e fromthe valve seat sothat-the valve-headcan bemoved relative V tothe carrier andtightly oniit'sse'at.

EDWARDS; NI-VIVALSEY. 

